Yarn conditioning process



Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE YARN CONDITIONING PROCESS No Drawing. Application December 17, 1938, Serial No. 246,516

. 8 Claims. (Cl. 8-4425) This invention relates to the treatment of cellulose organic derivative filaments, fibers, threads and the like and more particularly to a method of eliminating the tendency of such materials to accumulate charges of static electricity in twisting, winding, and spinning. The invention also relates particularly to the treatment of cellulose organic derivative cut staple fibers to adapt them for the manufacture of spun yarns.

As is well-known, cellulose organic derivative materials, particularly in filament, yarn, or sheet form, are particularly subject to the accumulation on their surfaces of charges of static electricity from frictional and other influences. In the case of filaments and yarns in which the surface area. of the material (per unit of weight) is enormously greater as compared to sheets or films, the problem of static often assumes serious proportions. In the manufacture of yarns of various types from artificial filaments, numerous steps in which the yarn is subjected to frictional influences may be necessary, as for example, twisting, winding, warping, carding, combing, drawing, spinning and the like, all of which operations tend to produce large accumulations of static on the filaments. This is particularly aggravated in the utilization of cut staple, as for example, in the making of spun yarn, since in carding and combing considerable friction is developed and as a result sufiicient charges accumulate on the fibers to make the formation of the web difficult, if not impossible; furthermore, even if a web is formed with some degree of success, the subsequent drafting operation produces a very uneven spun yarn or intermediate roving due to the presence of the static charge. In addition, there is the ever-present fire hazard.

Cellulose derivative yarn, particularly in the form of cut staple, is extremely difficult to handle in the various operations involved in making spun yarn, not only because such material is composed of filaments having smooth, glass-like surfaces without natural kink or irregularity, but also because it has relatively negligible moisture content at normal humidities, as compared to natural fibers such as cotton and wool, making it inherently far more susceptible to the accumulation of static. The charges accumulating on cellulose derivative cut staple fibers are, under some circumstances, even sufilcient to separate the individual fibers a distance of inches, notwithstanding their relatively minute size.

This invention has as its principal object to provide an improved method for the treatment of cellulose organic derivative yarns to reduce or eliminate the tendency of such yarns to accumulate charges of electricity under frictional and other influences. A further object is to provide a method of facilitating the handling and employment of cellulose organic derivative cut staple fibers in the various operations involved in the manufacture of spun yarns. Another object is to provide an improved type of cellulose organic derivative out staple having little or no tendency toward accumulation of static electrical charges. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

These objects are accomplished by the following invention which in its broader aspects comprises applying to cellulose organic derivative yarns either in the form of filaments, threads or staple fibers, an anti-static composition characterized by the presence therein of salts of the monoester derivatives of poly-carboxylic esters having the formulas:

0 0 and where z is 1, 2, etc., where .r is 0, 1, 2, etc., 13 is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the inorganic, primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases, R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, alkylene, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups, and wherein the system (CH2): is such that a: is 1 or more and may be substituted with any suitable substituent other than hydroxyl.

The above mentioned derivatives may be prepared by methods described in the literature. For example, the desired ester ester acid is treated with one or more organic or inorganic bases in such a manner that the acid is neutralized. If desired, the acid or base may be present in excess.

In accordance with my invention the above mentioned amine salts may be applied to the yarn in any convenient manner, for example, by roll, wick, immersion, spraying or the like. Inasmuch as these compounds are soluble in oil they may be dissolved or dispersed in oils such as mineral oil, blown and unblown, drying and semi-drying merely for purposes of illustration and not as a limitation thereof.

Example 1 A conditioning liquid is made up as follows:

P'arts p-p'-Tetrahydrofuriuryloxy ethyl ether 90 Water CisHs:OCO-CH2-COOH.cetylamine 5 and applied to textile materials such as silk, wool, cellulose acetate, etc. as described in Exampie 1. If the yarn is intended primarily for knitting, the amount of conditioning liquid applied may vary from 4-25% by weight of the yarn and if intended for weaving between 1-5% by weight. Cellulose acetate filaments treated as described above are quite soft and pliable and give improved results in various textile operations such as weaving, knitting, etc. and especially in the production of out staple fibers.

Conditioning liquids particularly useful for the treatment of various types of yarns in accordance with my invention particularly those composed of or containing cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and similar organic acid esters, and especially adapted for the de-electrification or antistatic treatment of cellulose organic derivative cut staple yarns are as follows:

Example 3 A conditioning liquid particularly useful in the preparation of cut staple fibers made of cellulose acetate and which may be used for other textile operations is made up as follows:

Parts CH C E -0C0CH,13HCOOH.NH 1 Olive oil 40 Glycerol acetone propionate 59 Example 4 Parts Diethylene glycol ditetrahydrofuroate 73-70 Example 7 Parts Cyclohexyl0CO-CaH1sCO-OH morpholine 1-5 Sperm oil 80 Laurol 19-15 Example 8 Parts CH:CH1

{a H'CH:0C0CH=OHC00H.piperidine 1-5 Blown sperm oil 99-95 Example 9 Parts err-01: OOCOCH=CHCO-OH.NHrCHzan 0 1-5 Di-B-methoxy ethyl succinate 75 Teaseed oil 24-20 Example 10 Parts CH: CQHs-OCIHi-OCZHl-OC0=CH C0-'OH.NH-di(ufll1ry] 1-5 Blown teaseed oil 99-95 Example 11 7 Parts CzHrOCzHrOCO-CHz-C0CH2CO0H.N(CH

1-5 Blown menhaden oil 9995 Example 12 The dioleylamine salt of the monoester of tricarballylic acid and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether Parts CH:(.|7OCH:CH:OC:H5

CHCOH-NH2C1sHu 1 5 m-c-onNH-om Soya bean oil '70 Hydroquinone 0.5 Ditetrahydrofurfurylamine propionate- 28.5-23.5

Example 13 Parts Water '75 Water soluble cellulose ester 10 Sulfonated castor oil 10 C4H9OCOCH=CH-COOH.N(CHs)3 5 Example 14 Parts CmHss-OCO-CH=CHCH=CH COOH.H2NCiaHa5 1-5 Light mineral oil 99-95 Any of the above compositions may be applied to the yarn intended for use in circular knitting by means of a bath, wick, spray, roller, pad or any suitable means. The amount of conditioning liquid applied may vary between 5-25% by weight of the yarn. Usually, however. the amount of conditioning liquid applied is about 10-15% by weight of the yarn. Yarn composed of cellulose acetate conditioned as described above gives excellent results when used in the circular knitting process.

As will be apparent irom the above examples and description the condition agent of my invention may be applied by a wide variety of methods. For example, I may employ the agent as an ingredient of the spinning dope from which the filaments are formed, the amount of the agent so employed depending upon a number of factors, such as the particular cellulose derivative used in making the yarn, the solvent or solvent combination used in making up the spinning solution, and the degree of softness or pliability desired in the yarn, etc.

If the conditioning agent is to be applied to the yarn after spinning, this may be done by bringing the yarn in contact with a wick, roll, or felt wet therewith, or the liquid may be applied by immersion, spray, or otherwise. The particular point at which the liquid is applied may vary. It may, for example, be applied to the yarn inside or outside the spinning cabinet, between the guide and godet roll, between the godet or other roll or guide and the point of winding and/or twisting. In some cases, the liquid may even be applied to the yarn after winding onto cones, spools, bobbins, or the like or by the so-called bobbin to bobbin" method. In the case of staple fiber manufacture, the liquid may be applied to the yarn prior to, or after cutting into staple lengths.

The amount of the agent so employed will vary widely depending upon the results desired, the specific nature of the material to which the agent is applied, the use to which the yarn is eventually to be put and other factors. For example, in a given case where a cellulose organic acid ester yarn such as a yarn composed of cellulose acetate,

is'intended for knitting, about 4 to 25% or more by weight, based on the weight of the dry yarn, may be satisfactory, while if the yarn is intended for weaving, the amount may vary between about 1 and 5%,

Although in the above examples I have referred primarily to yarn treating compositions containing only the conditioning agent and an oil, other ingredients such as solvents, non-solvents, emulsifying agents, blending agents and the like, may be added within the scope of my invention. Likewise, various dyes or other coloring matter may be included in case it is desired to permanently or fugitively tint or dye the material undergoing treatment.

Although I have found it convenient to illustrate my invention by reference to compositions containing specific percentages of the various ingredients,'these percentages may vary widely depending upon the particular purpose for which the composition is intended. For example, if it is desired to control the deelectrifying action of the conditioning agent, the amount of theagent may be adjusted as, for example, by reducing the amount of the agent and correspondingly increasing the amount of oil or other ingredient.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the treatment of yarns composed of organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate, the conditioning agents and formulas described herein are applicable to the conditioning of many other types of cellulose derivative yarns such as those composed of or containing cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate. cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, benzyl cellulose and others, as well as to the conditioning of silk, wool, cotton, viscose and other natural or artificial materials.

The term yam as used herein and in the claims is to be understood as including a single filament, a plurality of filaments associated into the form of a thread, either of high or low twist, single or multiple threads associated or twisted together, composite threads composed of a mixture of natural and artificial filaments or a composite thread formed by twisting together individual strands of natural or artificial materials, as well ascut staple fibers produced from natural and/or artificial filaments'or threads and spun yarn produced from such staple fibers.

As indicated above, the yarn conditioning agents of my invention are exceptionally good solvents for a wide variety of mineral, blown and unblown, drying and semi-drying animal and vegetable oils such as cottonseed, olive, castor, neat's-foot, sperm and other oils. This enables them to be used with any of such oils in making up a variety of yarn treating formulas of varying composition.

The yarn conditioning method and compositions of my invention possess many outstanding advantages. The fundamental and outstanding characteristic of the agents employed in accordance with the invention is their ability to soften yarns, especially those composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose such as eellulose acetate and render them amenable to various textile operations, especially operations such as those involved in the manufacture of cut staple fibers. Another outstanding characteristic of these compounds is their exceptional solvent power for a wide variety of mineral, animal, and vegetable oils and their ability to act as lubricating assistants in conjunction with these oils when applied to such yarns. In addition, due to their solubility in water, they may be readily removed from yarns and fabrics by means of the usual aqueous scour baths. By employing the yarn conditioning agents and method of my invention as herein described, one is enabled to obtain highly satisfactory results in the manufacture of yarns and woven fabrics free from defects such as pin holes, stitch distortion, ladder- 11 8 and the like.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns, filaments and fibers to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying thereto prior to the performance thereon of any textile operation a composition containing as its essential anti-static component a salt selected from the group consisting of the mono ester derivatives of poly-carboxylic esters having the formulas:

stituent selectedfrom the group consisting of alkyl and aryl groups.

2. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns, filaments and fibers composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying thereto prior to the performance thereon of any textile operation a composition containing as its essential anti-static component a salt selected from the group consisting of the mono ester derivatives of polycarboxylic esters having the formulas:

wherein z is 1, where a: is a number not exceeding 8, B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases, R is a substituent se lected from the group consisting of the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups and wherein the system (CH2); is such that :1: is a number not exceeding 8 and may contain a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl groups.

3. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns, filaments and fibers composed of or containing cellulose acetate to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying thereto prior to the performance thereon of any textile operation a composition containing as its essential anti-static component a salt selected from the group consisting of the mono ester derivatives of poly-carboxylic esters having the formulas:

wherein z is 1, where a: is a number not exceeding 8, B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases, R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups and wherein the system (CH2): is such that x is a number not exceeding 8 and may contain a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl groups.

4. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns, filaments and fibers composed of or containing cellulose acetate to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying thereto prior to the performance thereon of any textile operation a composition containing as its essential anti-static component a salt selected from the group consisting of the mono ester derivatives of poly-carboxylic esters having the formulas:

wherein z is 1, where a: is a number not exceeding 8, B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases, R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups and wherein the system (CH2): is such that .1 is a number not exceeding 8 and may contain a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl groups, and a textile lubricant.

5. Textile yarns in filament or fiber form having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity when subjected to a textile operation, said yarns containing a salt selected from the group consisting of the monoester derivatives of poly-carboxylic acids having the formulas:

wherein z is 1, where a: is a number not exceeding 8, B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases, R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups and wherein the system (CH2): is such that a: is a number not exceeding 8 and may contain a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl groups.

6. Textile yarns in filament or fiber form composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity when subjected to a textile operation, said yarns containing a salt selected from the group consisting of the monoester derivatives of poly-carboxylic acids having the formulas:

and

wherein a is 1, where a: is a number not exceeding 8, B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases, R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups and wherein the system (CH2): is such that a: is a number not exceeding 8 and may contain a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl groups.

7. Textile yarns in filamentor fiber form composed of or containing cellulose acetate having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges'of static electricity when subjected to a textile operation, said yarns containing a salt selected from the group consisting of the mono-ester derivatives of polycarboxylic acids having the formulas:

wherein z is 1, where :c is a number not exceeding 8, B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary; secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases, R is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups and wherein the system (CH2); is such that :c is a number not exceeding 8 and may contain a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl groups.

8. Textile yarns in filament or fiber form composed of or containing cellulose acetate having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity when subjected to a textile operation, wherein z is 1, where a: is a number not exceeding said yarns containing a salt selected from the 8, B is a substituent selected from the group congroup consisting of the mono-ester derivatives of sisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and polycarboxylic acids having the formulas: quaternary organic bases, R. is a substituent se- 5 lected from the group consisting oi the alkyl, R-0 3(OH;)=(fi cycloalkyl, aryl and heterocyclic groups and o 0 wherein the system (CH2): is such that :c is a number not exceeding 8 and may contain a suband stituent selected from the group consisting oi R-0-c-(cH=cH).(c-0B). 10 alkyl and aryl groups, and a textile lubricant.

," 1, JOSEPH B. DICKEY. 

